Detention of children overnight is a 'chronic breach' of the law

Greater Manchester Assistant Chief Constable, Dawn Copley (who is also the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead spokesperson on custody issues) said that holding children in custody disregards their rights and has become of great concern to the police, reports The Guardian.

Up to 800 children each week, aged 17 and under, are kept overnight in police stations because local authorities do not always have suitable accommodation to place the young people.